Nesting Oddities
| From our strange but true files... In early May 2003, we found an obvious-to-the-eye gravid (pregnant) northern flying squirrel occupying one of our nesting boxes. After processing the animal, we went on our way. The next week, we decided to head back to that area and re-check that particular nesting box to determine if the animal had produced its litter. Upon inspection of the nesting box, no squirrel was found. What we did find, however, was that the nesting material, in this case shredded eastern white cedar bark, had been rolled into a cylinder shape.
The object was tightly bound and obviously "rolled" into shape. We had the object x-rayed for possible contents and it was found to be what it appears to be - a nest that had been rolled into shape and nothing else. We postulate that the near-term female had decided to vacate the nest after our initial intrusion. As pregnancy, (combined with the effort involved in the gathering and preparation of nesting material), can take a lot out of a squirrel, it was likely very stressed physically. This near-exhaustion, combined with (what appears to be) innovative thought, resulted in the squirrel determining that it would be prudent, energy expenditure-wise, to compact and carry this hard-earned nesting material with her to a new cavity location and give birth there. Now, squirrels are not particularly smart, (although this one shows real promise!), and it did not, obviously, understand that it couldn't possibly take this wide load out through a 1.5" opening. Hence, it was left behind, probably after several unsuccessful attempts to "get it out the door". |
